Last Chance for Holiday Lights, First Chance for a New Year's Day Plunge

Hope everyone is enjoying a long -- or short -- holiday break this week! It's a great time to get the family together for fun activities in Racine County. Here are a few of our suggestions.

Time's running out on those holiday lights. There just are a few days left to take a drive to see two of the area's spectacular light displays. The Kiwanis Holiday Lights are aglow through Monday, Jan. 2 at the Racine Zoo, 2131 N. Main St. The bright, colorful displays, including animals, toy soldiers, Christmas trees, a train and more, are easily viewed from the street. The Kiwanis are accepting donations at any Johnson Bank location to help maintain the light display.

Big display ends soon. The Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights runs through Sunday, New Year's Day at the Jellystone Park Campground, 8425 Highway 38 in Caledonia. The elaborate displays, including Santa's workshop, Rudolph leading Santa's sleigh and a huge gingerbread house covered with sparkling candy, are viewed from the comfort of your vehicle. The light show is open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Sunday and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Prices are $15 per carload and $20 for limos, small buses and large vans. Call 262-835-2565 or visit www.wichristmascarnival.com 

Chilly plunge for a cause. The 22nd annual Splash and Dash is New Year's Day at North Beach. Everyone is invited to bring a nonperishable food item for the Racine County Food Bank and donations for the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization (HALO) and the Kiwanis Foundation. Then, take a refreshing plunge in Lake Michigan. The gathering starts at 11:30 a.m. and the dash into the lake is at noon. For details, visit www.spashanddashracine.com

Plan a movie night. Free Family Movie Night starts at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 at the Union Grove Municipal Building, 925 15th Ave., Union Grove. The feature is "Cars" sponsored by the Union Grove Recreation Department.

See a classic opera.  The family classic opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" will be presented Saturday and Sunday Jan. 7 and 8 by SouthEast Wisconsin Performing Arts at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 614 Main St. Performances of this inspiring opera are 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $5 for youth age 3 through 13. Tickets are available online at www.sewpa.org and at the door.

Campground reservation time.  Campground reservations for Cliffside Park and Sanders Park will be accepted in-person starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3 at the Real Racine Visitor Center, 14015 Washington Ave. (Highway 20) and online after 2 p.m. the same day at www.realracine.com. The camping season runs from mid-April through mid-October.

All of us at Real Racine wish you a prosperous 2012. To keep up on things to see and do, visit our website at www.realracine or "like" us on Facebook,. www.facebook.com/realracine